By the divine arrangement of Vasudeva, a son was born to Yaśodā. Yet, before this blessed event, O best of sages, the cruel Kaṃsa had slain all her previous children. Among those lost were Ṛjudāsa, Bhadradāsa, and Kīrtimān, the eldest. But eventually, Yaśodā gave birth to Rāma, lord of the world, known also as Balabhadra, the mighty wielder of the plough. Meanwhile, Devakī brought forth Kṛṣṇa, whose chest bore the auspicious mark of Śrīvatsa. From her womb, two sons were born, both fierce and armed with swords. These sons in turn begot children by the hundreds and then by the thousands. Among their progeny shone forth Cāruśravā, Cāruyaśas, Pradyumna, and Śaṅkha—distinguished above all others. In due time, Jāmbavatī, Kṛṣṇa’s wife of pure and gentle smile, approached him and spoke: “Grant me, O slayer of the Dānavas, a son equal to the lord of the gods.” The subduer of enemies, Kṛṣṇa, a treasure of austerity, resolved to fulfill her wish through penance. He undertook severe and intense austerities, seeking to obtain Rudra as a son. For the sake of a son, Kṛṣṇa performed terrible austerities, the very source of penance itself. He practiced, awakening within himself the divine root, the essence of consciousness. His journey led him to the hermitage of Upamanyu, the great-souled chief among sages. Bearing his conch, discus, and mace, and marked with the Śrīvatsa sign, Kṛṣṇa entered that sacred place. The hermitage was surrounded by the dwellings of sages and echoed with the chants of the Vedas. It was adorned with pure, sweet, and cool lakes. Sages and their sons gathered there, along with assemblies of great ascetics. Yogis devoted to meditation sat with their gaze fixed at the tips of their noses. Rivers encircled the hermitage, and it was frequented by reciters and speakers on Brahman—those who were peaceful, resolute in truth, free from sorrow, and undisturbed. The place was ever served by ascetics, the wise, and those devoted to celibacy. The divine Ganga flowed there eternally, destroying all sins. There, Madhava worshipped with reverent words and salutations. All who were filled with devotion bowed to the supreme teacher of yogis. They spoke among themselves of the unmanifest, the primeval god, the great sage. At that moment, the god himself—the ancient, formless one—arrived, taking a form to behold the sages. Beginningless, undecaying, infinite, the great lord of beings, Maheshvara, appeared. Govinda hastened to the abode of that great soul. The son of Devakī performed offerings to the gods, sages, and ancestors. He worshipped the emblems of Shambhu, radiant with immeasurable brilliance. The residents of the hermitage performed their worship with flowers and unbroken grains of rice. All who dwelled there stood motionless, their bodies radiant and auspicious. Seeing that the desired rites had been accomplished, they began to depart from that ancient city. Taking the finest flowers, Kṛṣṇa entered the house of the chief sage. He bowed his head before the sage, who sat calm, with matted locks and garments of bark. With reverence, Kṛṣṇa seated this foremost among yogis upon a seat, honoring him as his most distinguished guest.